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Fraunhofer builds fast laser system for product analysis

Jun

14

2015

The Fraunhofer Institute has developed a laser system that rapidly the chemical composition of products can be traced. The system operates as a spectrometer, wherein substances absorb certain wavelengths are reflected while others.

According to the scientists of the renowned German institute operates the laser system with infrared light at a test tube with a test substance is targeted. The substances in the test tube having a specific pattern of reflection and absorption, and it can be identified on the basis thereof. This system works as if it were a conventional spectrometer.

In order to make the system work the scientists were, however, to ensure that there is only one wavelength is emitted at the same time by the laser. In addition, the emitted light beam is constant adaptable on a fixed spectrum of wavelengths. The researchers of the Fraunhofer succeeded in significantly faster to make the adjustment of the wavelengths than was possible up to now. As a result, there can now be a thousand light spectra per second “shot” in a sample to be tested, which is an acceleration of a factor of 1000.

The system can be used, inter alia, in the pharmaceutical industry and in the food industry. In these industries is subject to strict quality and production requirements that products must be sampled frequently. However, the laser system of Fraunhofer makes it possible to carry out this analysis in real time, rather than having to send samples to a laboratory. Because the laser is barely larger than a matchbox, it could also be built in the future in mobile phones.

The scientists want their laser system during the event Laser – World of Photonics show. That is from 22 to 25 June in the Bavarian city of Munich.